Well, Maori activists who want a better deal on the foreshore and seabed can rest assured that the Maori Party is about to sell them out. Tariana Turia just got herself a shiny new portfolio overseeing the unaccountable privatisation of social services for families in need.
Do you really think she’s going to give up control over a policy that National has agreed to just for her? Do you really think she’ll stand strong on her principles over the foreshore and seabed if it means losing the Crown limo? Not a chance.
Sure, it was the issue that she left Labour over and the driving force behind her party but that’s yesterday’s news.
Now, Turia’s a minister and she’s going to do what it takes to keep that job, including selling out over the issue that got her where she is – the foreshore and seabed – by buying National’s meaningless offer to replace Labour’s Act with essentially the same regime.
Oh well, it was a nice concept while it lasted – a party that would speak specifically for the interests of Maori, being able cooperate with its natural allies on the left but not without being drowned out in a larger party. Unfortunately, the leader is a sell out (and the other one’s a lazy weakling).
Turia has been brought off for the price of Whanau Ora (whatever it is) and she’ll now quietly forget about iwi’s ambition to get what they see as their rights to utilise the economic potential of the foreshore and seabed.
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